Bangladesh to build 317km road along India, Myanmar border

The Bangladesh government has approved a road construction project along 317km of the 540km of its border with India and Myanmar.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council approved the Tk 17 billion ‘Border Road (Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban Hill District) Construction Project 1st Phase’ at a meeting on Tuesday.

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ECNEC gave permissions for 16 projects with a combined budget of Tk 96.8 billion at the meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the NEC Conference Room in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.

“The project has been undertaken chiefly to ensure the nation’s security and to curb theft and illegal business in the border area,” Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said after the meeting.

>>130km in the Khegamukh-Laitongpara-Thachchi-Dumdumia-Rajasthali area

The main goal of the project is to develop connectivity and enable security forces to prevent drug, weapons and human trafficking on both sides of the border.

It’s also aimed at improving connectivity with neighbouring countries to expand trade, to create employment opportunities in the border area, to ease the movement of agricultural products from hill areas and to promote ease of travel for domestic and foreign tourists in the area.